Bombers greats called out for opening ceremonies at Investors Group Field

Legendary Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Ken Ploen acknowledges the fans during a ceremony to open Investors Group Field prior to CFL action against the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg on Thurs., June 27, 2013. KEVIN KING/Winnipeg Sun/QMI Agency

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The Blue Bombers opened Winnipeg's first new football stadium in 60 years on Thursday night in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd.

Investors Group Field, whose primary tenants will be the Bombers and the University of Manitoba Bisons, welcomed 33,500 fans to the first game of the 2013 CFL season between Winnipeg and the Montreal Alouettes. The game didn't end the way the home side wanted it to, as the Bombers fell 37-33 in an entertaining seesaw battle, but they still had plenty of moments to remember.

Former offensive line great Chris Walby served as the master of ceremonies.

The highlight of the ceremony was a pair of former Bombers and current TSN analysts, Matt Dunigan and Milt Stegall, hooking up on a 50-yard pass. Stegall, dressed in a complete Bomber uniform minus the helmet, took the 10-yard toss and ran 40 yards through the ribbon to officially open the stadium. That brought the loudest cheers from the standing, flag-waving spectators.

The Bombers held an Olympic torch-style relay throughout the province over the last couple of weeks, using a football instead of a flame. Bombers great Ken Ploen brought the ball into the stadium and handed it off to Stegall before he and Dunigan hooked up on the first pass.

After a couple of flyovers from a Hercules aircraft, Bombers placekicker Justin Palardy booted the opening kickoff at 8:14 p.m.

Investors Group Field replaces Canad Inns/Winnipeg Stadium, which was located on the western edge of downtown and hosted its first game in August 1953. Most of Canad Inns Stadium has already been torn down, making way for commercial development.

The Bombers had to play one more season at Canad Inns Stadium than anticipated, as Investors Group Field's opening was delayed by a year. The construction of the $200 million facility was plagued by high winds and a dispute contractors led to a lawsuit that is still before the courts.

Thursday night's game went much more smoothly outside of the stadium than it did during the pre-season contest on June 12. That night was plagued by traffic jams that snarled traffic and caused some spectators to be an hour late for the game. The Bombers hired more buses and police officers to make sure traffic moved fluidly on Thursday night, and it looks like it worked.

Then again, fans were asked to be in their seats by 7:15 p.m., a full 45 minutes before kickoff, for the opening ceremony.

As Advertised in the Winnipeg SUN

Bombers greats called out for opening ceremonies at Investors Group Field

The Blue Bombers opened Winnipeg's first new football stadium in 60 years on Thursday night in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd.

Investors Group Field, whose primary tenants will be the Bombers and the University of Manitoba Bisons, welcomed 33,500 fans to the first game of the 2013 CFL season between Winnipeg and the Montreal Alouettes. The game didn't end the way the home side wanted it to, as the Bombers fell 37-33 in an entertaining seesaw battle, but they still had plenty of moments to remember.